Answers that name a competitor

• Substance - 314 W Superior St, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
• One Design Company - 230 W Superior St #700, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Studio Blue - 800 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60622
• Simple Truth - 314 W Superior St Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Prosper Strategies - 200 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• JK Marketing Group JKMG - Website Design and Marketing - 448 N La Salle Dr Ste 10-125, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Kym Abrams Design - 213 W Institute Pl, Ste 608, Chicago, IL 60610
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States

Assuming you mean River North in Chicago, I’d put these at the top of your shortlist:

• Substance — my first call for a nonprofit rebrand. They’re in River North and are particularly strategy/brand focused, with experience across nonprofits and purpose-driven organizations. Their work emphasizes organizational rebrands rather than just a new logo.
• One Design Company — strongest River North option if you want brand + website under one roof. They’re on W. Superior and combine research, strategy, branding, digital design, and development.
• Studio Blue — worth considering if your nonprofit is in arts, culture, education, or another mission-driven space. Their Chicago studio is in River North and they have a strong mission-driven design orientation.
• Simple Truth — another River North option with relevant nonprofit work; they’ve specifically done a nonprofit/coalition brand identity and website project.
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency — good if you want a more design-forward agency with substantial in-house web/UX and development capability.

If nonprofit expertise matters more than being next door

I’d also interview orbitmedia.com. They have a substantial Chicago nonprofit portfolio—including Greater Chicago Food Depository, Goodman Theatre, and other nonprofits—and explicitly specialize in nonprofit website strategy, UX, SEO, accessibility, donations, and CMS implementation. Orbit Media Studios

For a true brand + website transformation, lsvdesign.com is another particularly interesting Chicago choice: the studio has focused on nonprofits, associations, and educational institutions for 25+ years. Lidia Varesco Design

My shortlist would be Substance, One Design Company, and Orbit. I'd ask all three for proposals and specifically require: brand strategy, messaging, visual identity, website UX/content strategy, development, accessibility, donation integration, SEO migration, and post-launch support.

If you tell me your nonprofit's mission, approximate budget, and whether you want a small boutique agency or a larger shop, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 and compare them.

• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Bark Design - 4330 N California Ave Store Front, Chicago, IL 60618, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Studio Blue - 20 W Hubbard St #3W, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Firebelly Design - 1402 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• Studio Blue - 800 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60622
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Kym Abrams Design - 213 W Institute Pl, Ste 608, Chicago, IL 60610
• Bark Design - 3115 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

If by “West Loop” you mean the Fulton Market/West Loop area specifically, Design In Chicago is the clearest local fit I found. But for a museum project, I’d actually broaden the radius a bit because some of the strongest Chicago firms for cultural storytelling aren’t physically in West Loop.

My shortlist

• Design In Chicago — strongest West Loop-local option.

They’re at 159 N Sangamon and combine brand strategy, web design/development, video/content, and marketing under one roof. That could be valuable if your museum site needs more than a redesign—e.g. a narrative framework, photography/video, exhibition storytelling, and a coherent digital identity.

• Bark Design — strongest museum/nonprofit storytelling credentials.

They aren't actually in West Loop, but their portfolio is unusually relevant: Field Museum, along with other mission-driven cultural and nonprofit organizations. Bark explicitly positions itself around mission-driven organizations and has experience turning institutional stories into visual communications. Bark Design
For a museum, this would be one of my first calls.

• Advocate Creative — excellent if the project involves brand + story + site.

They're nonprofit-focused and specifically list arts/culture work including Chicago History Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Computer History Museum, and The Tech Interactive. Their capabilities span messaging, visual identity, websites, microsites, campaigns, and print. Advocate Creative
Very compelling if the museum needs to clarify its story before designing the site.

• Studio Blue — particularly interesting for a museum.

Their work centers on cultural and academic institutions, with experience involving museums, exhibitions, interpretation, publications, and digital experiences—including work for the Art Institute of Chicago.
I'd look at them if the site needs to feel editorial, cultural, sophisticated, and content-rich, rather than like a conventional nonprofit fundraising site.

• Orbit Media — not West Loop, but probably worth putting on the RFP list. Their nonprofit practice includes Goodman Theatre, and they explicitly talk about translating an organization's mission into compelling storytelling. Their Goodman work reportedly produced a 55% increase in conversions. Orbit Media Studios

Best fit if you want storytelling plus strong information architecture, SEO, accessibility, analytics, and measurable conversion performance.

How I'd rank them for your museum

One other firm I'd keep in the mix is Blackbird Media. It's a small specialist practice explicitly focused on museums and cultural nonprofits, including interactive interpretation, collection explorers, visitor experiences, and digital infrastructure. It's less of a conventional branding agency and more interesting if your museum project has an interactive/interpretive component. Blackbird Media

If you give me the museum's approximate size/budget and what you mean by “storytelling” (brand narrative, immersive homepage, collection/exhibition storytelling, donor story, oral histories, etc.), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their actual museum case studies, likely strengths/weaknesses, and fit for your project.

• Bark Design - 4330 N California Ave Store Front, Chicago, IL 60618, United States
• DataMade - 626 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Three Communication Design - 4507 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste 105, Chicago, IL 60640
• Maven Digital - 23 N Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Sandbox Studio, Chicago - 1608 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States
• Firebelly Design - 1402 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Studio Blue - 800 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60622
• Hartford Design - 651 W Washington Blvd, Ste 503, Chicago, IL 60661
• Avila Creative - 2517 W Lunt Ave, Chicago, IL 60645, United States
• Bark Design - 3115 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Statement - 1033 South Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States

The strongest Chicago fits are:

• Bark Design — particularly strong for nonprofit annual reports + interactive storytelling; its portfolio includes Field Museum annual reports and web/interactive work. Be Nice Works
• DataMade — best if interactive data visualization is central; specializes in web-based data visualization and civic/nonprofit projects. Clutch
• Dialogue Theory — strong mission-driven/nonprofit digital design, with interactive mapping and data-visualization experience. Clutch
• Three Communication Design — good hybrid of publication/report design and interactive web.
• EDUCO — has directly produced multiple Chicago nonprofit digital annual reports, including DCASE and Chicago Loop Alliance. Educo Web Design Educo Web Design
• Be Nice Works — unusually relevant combination of data visualization + nonprofit annual-report development; built Imaginable Futures’ 2023 annual report microsite. Be Nice Works

My shortlist for an RFP: Bark Design, EDUCO, DataMade, and Dialogue Theory. They cover the spectrum from polished annual-report storytelling to genuinely sophisticated interactive data work. Educo Web Design Clutch

• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Operation Technology - 211 W Wacker Dr 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• The Loop Marketing Inc - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• ePageCity Inc. - 111 N Wabash Ave Ste 3023, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Modern DCA - 1440 W Taylor St #1009, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Lift Digital Marketing - 332 S Michigan Ave #9072, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• RedShark SEO - 65 W Erie St #1901, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

For a nonprofit that needs both a modern redesign and better visibility for program/service searches, I’d shortlist these:

• Top pick: Design In Chicago — 159 N. Sangamon St. in West Loop/Fulton Market. They combine web design, branding, marketing and content under one team. I’d consider them if the aging site also needs a substantial visual/brand refresh.
• Best nonprofit + SEO specialist: Orbit Media Studios — Orbit explicitly specializes in nonprofit redesigns and nonprofit SEO. They have a particularly relevant Chicago case study with Off The Street Club, where the redesign included keyword research, search-optimized navigation/copy and conversion improvements. Orbit Media Studios
• Best Fulton Market SEO/web option: Cybernautic Web Design — Their Chicago/Fulton Market offering combines custom web design with organic SEO, and they specifically cite nonprofit and Chicago organizational work. Cybernautic Website Design
• Best Loop option: Operation Technology — Located at 211 W. Wacker, they offer redesign, web development, SEO, content and analytics, so they could handle the project as a broader digital-marketing engagement.
• Best smaller/boutique option: Windy City Web Solutions — South Loop rather than Fulton Market, but specifically works with nonprofits on WordPress, accessibility, performance and search visibility. This could be attractive if you want a more hands-on relationship rather than a large agency. Windy City Web Solutions

My recommendation

I would interview Orbit, Design In Chicago, and Cybernautic first. Orbit is the strongest match if program searches/SEO are the primary objective; Design In Chicago if the brand and user experience are badly dated; and Cybernautic if you want a Chicago agency with both custom development and SEO.

For your RFP, I would specifically ask each agency to demonstrate how they'd turn searches such as “[program type] Chicago,” “[population] services Chicago,” “help with [need],” etc. into a new information architecture—not just promise to “optimize the website.” You want a strategy covering keyword research → program/service landing pages → navigation → on-page copy → technical SEO → redirects from the old URLs → measurement of organic program-page traffic and conversions.

If you tell me roughly your nonprofit's mission, current website, and budget range, I can narrow this to 2–3 agencies and compare their relevant nonprofit case studies, location, services, and likely fit.

• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Firebelly Design - 1402 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Chris Depa Web Design + Branding - 1528 Robinhood Ln, La Grange Park, IL 60526, United States
• Bark Design - 4330 N California Ave Store Front, Chicago, IL 60618, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Bark Design - 3115 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
• Beth Interactive - 4657 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste B, Chicago, IL 60640

Yes. I’d prioritize small/midsize studios that explicitly work with nonprofits or have a stated pro-bono/discount program, rather than starting with the big Chicago agencies. That gives you a much better shot at getting a thoughtful redesign without a $25k–$50k+ agency engagement.

My shortlist

1. LimeRed Studio, Inc. — best overall for a mission-driven nonprofit

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 312-238-9070)

This would be one of my first calls. LimeRed is Chicago-based and specifically focuses on nonprofits, social enterprises, and other purpose-driven organizations. Their capabilities include website strategy, UX/UI, accessibility, SEO, WordPress development, integrations, and ongoing maintenance. Their client feedback also specifically mentions understanding nonprofit missions.

Why I'd contact them: If the redesign needs to do more than look nicer—e.g. clarify your story, improve donations, make the site accessible, reorganize content, etc.—they seem particularly well suited.

Ask: “Do you have a nonprofit rate, smaller-scope engagement, or pro-bono availability for smaller organizations?”

2. Firebelly Design — definitely ask about their pro-bono program

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-489-3200)

This is probably the most interesting pro-bono lead on the list. Firebelly is a Chicago creative studio with substantial nonprofit experience, and it has a Grant for Good program that provides a nonprofit with a year of free design services. Their work includes organizations such as Planned Parenthood, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and The Chicago Community Trust.

The catch: the grant appears to be competitive/limited, and it's not necessarily a standing “free website for any nonprofit” program.

I'd contact them anyway, particularly if your nonprofit has a compelling mission and a website that is genuinely holding the organization back.

3. Windy City Web Solutions — best budget-oriented Chicago option

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 847-801-9482)

This one jumps out if your priority is “we need a good website without spending agency money.”

They're a small Chicago shop focused heavily on WordPress, including work for nonprofits, and Clutch currently lists them at $1,000+ minimum projects with 80% of their service mix being web design. Clutch also reports nonprofit web work under $10,000 and strong reviews around communication and value. Clutch Clutch

I'd contact them if: you have a relatively straightforward redesign and want a professional WordPress site that your staff can maintain themselves.

4. What A Great Website — good boutique option

DirectionsWebsite[Call](tel:+1 773-972-5699)

This Chicago boutique studio specifically works with small businesses and nonprofits, with an emphasis on positioning, branding and making websites useful as growth tools. A nonprofit client specifically praised their ability to capture the organization's mission in the redesign.

I'd put them on the list if your biggest problem is “our website doesn't communicate who we are.”

5. Advocate Creative — good if branding + website are intertwined

DirectionsWebsite

Advocate is particularly nonprofit/foundation oriented and does website design, development, branding, publications and broader communications.

This makes more sense if your website redesign is really part of a larger brand/communications refresh, rather than simply replacing an old website.

And there are some unusually good discount/pro-bono options

These aren't necessarily Chicago-only agencies, but I'd absolutely include them in your outreach because the economics could be much better.

Crescendo Studios explicitly offers nonprofits up to 50% off, with select projects taken entirely pro bono. They specifically list web design/development and say they review applications within 48 hours. Crescendo Studios

Lorien Web is a one-person studio specifically focused on nonprofits and community organizations and offers discounted, mission-aligned rates. Their positioning is particularly appealing for a small nonprofit because they emphasize fixed, board-friendly scopes and sites that staff can maintain themselves. Lorien Web

Peak Digital offers eligible 501(c)(3)s 15% off all services, including web design/development, donation integrations and ongoing support. Peak Digital Studio

Ark40 Consulting is especially worth applying to if your budget is effectively zero: it has a pro-bono technology program for small nonprofits that includes web development and strategic technology work. They take a limited number of organizations each month. Ark40 Consulting

90five's Give-It-All program is another unusually strong lead: its program provides qualifying nonprofits/community organizations with design, development and strategy at no cost, including web design. They explicitly say there is no organization too small or mission too niche, and applications are reviewed individually. 90Five

Who I'd contact first

If this were my nonprofit, I'd send inquiries in roughly this order:

1. Firebelly — take a shot at the pro-bono Grant for Good.
2. LimeRed — strongest Chicago nonprofit-specialist candidate.
3. Windy City Web Solutions — strongest likely fit for a modest budget.
4. What A Great Website — particularly good if messaging/positioning is part of the problem.
5. Crescendo Studios — potentially 50% off or free.
6. Lorien Web — potentially excellent fit for a very small organization.
7. Ark40 — apply for pro bono.
8. 90five — apply for Give-It-All.

I wouldn't lead with large agencies like Social Driver, Solid Digital, or Razorfish unless you have a substantial budget. Current Chicago nonprofit-agency listings show some of these firms starting around $10k–$25k+ and going considerably higher. Clutch Clutch

One important trick

Don't email them saying simply “We need a website redesign. What would it cost?”

For a nonprofit, lead with:

• your mission
• approximate annual budget
• whether you're a 501(c)(3)
• current website
• what's wrong with it
• what the new site needs to accomplish
• approximate number of pages
• whether you need donations/events/volunteer forms
• your actual maximum budget
• whether you'd consider a phased or pro-bono engagement

That makes it much easier for an agency to say “yes, here's a way we can make this work.”

If you tell me your nonprofit's website, approximate budget (even “$0–5k”), and what you dislike about the current site, I can narrow this to 3–5 agencies that are the best fit and give you a tailored outreach email for each.

4. What A Great Website — good boutique option

This Chicago boutique studio specifically works with small businesses and nonprofits, with an emphasis on positioning, branding and making websites useful as growth tools. A nonprofit client specifically praised their ability to capture the organization's mission in the redesign.

I'd put them on the list if your biggest problem is “our website doesn't communicate who we are.”

5. Advocate Creative — good if branding + website are intertwined

Advocate is particularly nonprofit/foundation oriented and does website design, development, branding, publications and broader communications.

This makes more sense if your website redesign is really part of a larger brand/communications refresh, rather than simply replacing an old website.

And there are some unusually good discount/pro-bono options

These aren't necessarily Chicago-only agencies, but I'd absolutely include them in your outreach because the economics could be much better.

Crescendo Studios explicitly offers nonprofits up to 50% off, with select projects taken entirely pro bono. They specifically list web design/development and say they review applications within 48 hours. Crescendo Studios

Lorien Web is a one-person studio specifically focused on nonprofits and community organizations and offers discounted, mission-aligned rates. Their positioning is particularly appealing for a small nonprofit because they emphasize fixed, board-friendly scopes and sites that staff can maintain themselves. lorienweb.com

Peak Digital offers eligible 501(c)(3)s 15% off all services, including web design/development, donation integrations and ongoing support.

Ark40 Consulting is especially worth applying to if your budget is effectively zero: it has a pro-bono technology program for small nonprofits that includes web development and strategic technology work. They take a limited number of organizations each month.

90five's Give-It-All program is another unusually strong lead: its program provides qualifying nonprofits/community organizations with design, development and strategy at no cost, including web design. They explicitly say there is no organization too small or mission too niche, and applications are reviewed individually.

Who I'd contact first

If this were my nonprofit, I'd send inquiries in roughly this order:

• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• YourPortal - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• SEOLEVELUP Website Design SEO Company Chicago - 355 N Laflin St Ste 101C, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Firebelly Design - 1402 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States

For a Chicago animal rescue, I’d prioritize agencies that have actually built animal-welfare/adoption workflows—not just attractive nonprofit websites. Your system likely needs pet profiles, searchable/filterable listings, adoption applications, foster applications, photos, status changes, and ideally integration with whatever animal-management database you already use.

My shortlist

1. WebCitz — strongest technical fit

• They have a documented case study for Little Orphans Animal Rescue involving automated pet listings, adoption/foster applications, WordPress, and RescueGroups integration. WebCitz WebCitz
• Their animal-rescue work specifically addresses automatically pulling available animals into the website, eliminating duplicate data entry.
• My pick if the adoption-listing system itself is the core project.
• webcitz.com
• Blue Ox Websites & Marketing — animal-rescue specialist

• They specifically build websites for animal rescues and shelters, including adoptable-animal listings, adoption/foster forms, donations and integrations with animal-management platforms. Blue Ox Websites & Marketing
• Their approach sounds particularly appropriate if you want a manageable WordPress system rather than a giant custom software project.
• blueoxweb.com
• Pawlytics — worth considering if you also need the underlying rescue database

• Pawlytics is animal-rescue-specific software for managing pets and people, applications, adoption records, foster coordination and related workflows. Pawlytics
• Its website-design service can integrate Pawlytics listings, applications and donation functionality directly into a rescue website. Pawlytics Custom Websites
• Best if you want the website and rescue-management system to work together, rather than commissioning an entirely bespoke database.
• Customedia Labs — particularly interesting for a Chicago organization

• They have a published project for PAWS Chicago, involving a responsive nonprofit website, visual storytelling, adoption/fostering journeys and SEO/SEM. customedialabs | Global Digital Partner
• I'd consider them if the project is as much about reimagining the adopter experience and public-facing brand as building the listing mechanics.
• Swartwerk Media Design — interesting for a genuinely custom system

• Chicago-based and explicitly experienced with custom database-driven solutions, PHP/MySQL, custom WordPress and nonprofit/charity work. Swartwerk Media Design
• This is the one I'd investigate if your requirements go beyond plugging an existing rescue platform into WordPress—for example, a custom matching/search system or unusual internal workflows.

A couple of Chicago agencies I'd also interview

LimeRed Studio, Inc. — Chicago-based, nonprofit/mission-driven focus with WordPress, UX, accessibility, CRM/forms and integrations. They look particularly good if user experience and nonprofit communications are major priorities.

Orbit Media Studios — a more established Chicago web agency with custom development, SEO, UX and analytics capabilities. I'd consider them for a larger-budget, strategy-heavy project.

Windy City Web Solutions — a smaller Chicago shop focused on custom WordPress, including nonprofit sites. Potentially worth getting a quote from if you want a more hands-on partner.

What I'd ask agencies to build

I wouldn't simply send them a request for "an adoption website." I'd put these requirements in the RFP:

• Central animal database with dogs/cats and custom fields
• Individual animal pages with photos, bio, age, breed, temperament, medical/adoption information
• Search/filter by species, size, age, sex, location, etc.
• Automatic availability/status updates so adopted animals disappear or change status without staff editing multiple places
• Adoption and foster applications optimized for mobile
• Application-to-animal association
• Admin dashboard for staff/volunteers
• Photo management
• Ability to mark animals as adopted, pending, fostered, urgent, etc.
• Integration with your existing rescue software/CRM if you have one
• Donation and volunteer functionality
• SEO for individual animal pages
• Accessibility/WCAG compliance
• Analytics showing listing views → inquiries → applications → adoptions
• Easy staff editing without needing a developer
• Full ownership/export of your data and website

Most importantly, ask them to demonstrate the admin workflow before hiring them. Have a volunteer create a new dog, upload photos, mark it available, change its status to pending, and finally mark it adopted. If that process takes five minutes and several screens, your staff will hate the system.

Who I'd contact first

My initial three calls would be WebCitz, Blue Ox, and Pawlytics. They have the clearest evidence of understanding animal-rescue adoption workflows, rather than merely nonprofit web design. WebCitz Pawlytics Custom Websites Blue Ox Websites & Marketing

If you tell me (1) your approximate budget, (2) whether you already use RescueGroups, Petfinder, Shelterluv, Pawlytics, etc., and (3) whether you want Chicago-local or are open to remote agencies, I can narrow this to 3–5 firms and compare likely cost, technical approach, relevant animal-rescue work, and what I'd ask each one in an RFP.

• Interpro Translation Solutions - 1761 S Naperville Rd Ste 102, Wheaton, IL 60189, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Vera Creative - 935 W Chestnut St #650, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Bigmouth Creative LLC - 4430 N Clifton Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Haztusitio - 6058 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60629, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Alpha Efficiency - Web Design Chicago Agency - 875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• BatesMeron Sweet Design - 1006 S Michigan Ave #601, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
• Multi-Lingua Communications Inc - 550 W Frontage Rd #2715, Northfield, IL 60093, United States

For an immigrant services nonprofit, I’d prioritize a partner that understands community trust, accessibility, bilingual UX, and nonprofit content workflows—not just a firm that can translate pages. A good process is usually: discovery + UX design → bilingual information architecture → culturally appropriate Spanish (or other language) localization → CMS setup so staff can maintain both languages.

Here are Chicago-area firms I’d shortlist:

Strongest fits for a bilingual immigrant-services nonprofit

Casa Blue

Best fit if your site needs community-centered storytelling, bilingual strategy, and brand work. Casa Blue describes itself as a bilingual, POC-led studio and highlights work with social-change organizations, including bilingual website projects. Casa Blue

Why I’d consider them:

• Mission/social-impact orientation
• Experience with Latinx and advocacy organizations
• Stronger on “voice + trust + engagement” than a purely technical web shop Casa Blue

Orbit Media Studios

Best fit if you need a high-performing nonprofit website with strong UX, accessibility, SEO, donations, and content management. Orbit has a dedicated nonprofit practice and Chicago nonprofit portfolio. Orbit Media Studios

Why I’d consider them:

• Deep nonprofit website experience
• Good choice for complex service directories, resources, forms, and donor journeys
• Strong CMS strategy Orbit Media Studios

EDUCO Web Design

A good option for organizations wanting a collaborative nonprofit-focused redesign. EDUCO positions itself around nonprofit and socially driven organizations and has Chicago-area experience. Educo Web Design

Why I’d consider them:

• Nonprofit specialization
• Branding + website + strategy in one engagement Educo Web Design

If you want a design firm plus a dedicated localization partner

For immigrant services, I’d consider separating responsibilities:

• Design/development: Casa Blue, Orbit, or EDUCO
• Professional localization: a translation/localization firm such as Interpro Translation Solutions, which lists website localization and localization engineering among its services.

That approach can work well because website agencies often know UX but don’t always have native-language reviewers who understand immigration terminology, regional language differences, and cultural nuance.

Questions I’d ask before signing

1. “Can you show us two bilingual sites you launched?”

Ask to see the Spanish version live, not screenshots.

2. “Who writes/reviews the Spanish content?”

You want native speakers and community-informed reviewers, not machine translation.

3. “How will users switch languages?”

Avoid a tiny language toggle buried in the footer.

4. “Will staff be able to update English and Spanish independently?”

Important for changing eligibility rules, intake requirements, and resources.

5. “How will you handle accessibility?”

Immigrant service users may include people on mobile devices, with limited bandwidth, or with accessibility needs.

My first calls would probably be Casa Blue (for culturally grounded bilingual engagement), Orbit Media (for a mature nonprofit platform), and EDUCO (for a nonprofit-focused collaborative build). Casa Blue Orbit Media Studios Educo Web Design

If you share your budget range, languages needed (Spanish only vs. Spanish + others), and whether this is a redesign or a new site, I can narrow this to a top 2–3.

• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Mightybytes, Inc. - 1725 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Beth Interactive - 4657 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste B, Chicago, IL 60640
• Heller Consulting - 53 W Jackson Blvd, Ste 622, Chicago, IL 60604
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Maven Digital - 23 N Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Beth Interactive Inc. - 4541 N Ravenswood Ave #303, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Doing Good Digital - 312 Arizona Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States
• Modern DCA - 1440 W Taylor St #1009, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Neoteric Design - 29 E Madison St, Ste 450, Chicago, IL 60602

If the two must-have capabilities are donor database/CRM integration + strong nonprofit UX, I’d put Orbit Media Studios at the top of the shortlist.

My pick: Orbit Media Studios

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Orbit is a particularly good fit for a mid-sized nonprofit because they combine UX, web development, content strategy, analytics, and integrations rather than treating the website as just a branding exercise. They explicitly work with nonprofit organizations and have experience integrating websites with CRMs and other systems. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios

Their nonprofit portfolio is also convincing: they redesigned sites for organizations including Greater Chicago Food Depository, Gift of Hope, Goodman Theatre, and Off the Street Club. The Off the Street Club project reportedly produced a 15% increase in donation conversion, while Gift of Hope focused heavily on donor registration, donations, and clearer UX paths. Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios Orbit Media Studios

orbitmedia.com

Two others I'd interview

• Mightybytes, Inc. — I'd choose them if accessibility, responsible data practices, and mission-driven digital strategy are especially important. They have substantial nonprofit experience and offer UX research/testing, web development, integrations, and ongoing support. Mightybytes Mightybytes
• Beth Interactive — worth serious consideration if the project is more fundraising/CRM-centric than website-centric. They're particularly focused on donor engagement, fundraising technology, database management, digital donor journeys, and analytics.

Who I'd hire

Orbit, assuming their proposal demonstrates hands-on experience with your specific donor database.

That's the key qualification I'd make non-negotiable. Don't accept “we integrate with CRMs” as sufficient. In the finalist interviews, ask Orbit to walk you through:

1. A nonprofit project using the same CRM/database you use.
2. Exactly how donor records, forms, gifts, preferences, and consent data will flow between the website and database.
3. How they'll prevent duplicate constituent records.
4. Who owns the integration code and documentation after launch.
5. How they'll test donation flows and data synchronization before launch.
6. Their plan for accessibility and mobile donation UX.
7. Three references from nonprofits of roughly your size.

One caveat: Orbit is likely the stronger website/UX choice, whereas Beth Interactive may be stronger if the heart of your problem is fundraising operations and donor data. So I'd invite both to pitch against the same RFP rather than choosing solely on portfolio quality.

• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Eventlify - 150 N Michigan Ave Unit 2800, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Events - 118 N Clinton St Ste 301, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Ticket Falcon - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Technical Registration Experts, Inc. - 1932 S Halsted St #413, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• GSS Inc - 8 S Michigan Ave Ste 802, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
• Conference Technology Enhancements - 1460 Renaissance Dr #209, Park Ridge, IL 60068, United States
• Expo Pass - 1395 W Jeffrey Dr, Addison, IL 60101, United States
• CharityGiving - 118 N Clinton St Ste 301, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Chicago Association Management - 400 E Randolph St Apt 3115, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• IMPACT365 Event and Marketing Agency - 1512 N Fremont St #104, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
• Creative Events Solutions - 4416 S Saint Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60653
• Philanthropy500 - 118 N Clinton St Ste 301, Chicago, IL 60661, United States

If the goal is a polished Chicago nonprofit-gala website that handles registration, ticketing, sponsorships, seating, donations, and possibly auctions, I’d shortlist these rather than hiring a generic web-design shop.

My top picks

1. Orbit Media Studios — best overall for the website

• Chicago agency with a substantial nonprofit portfolio.
• Has worked with organizations including the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Goodman Theatre, and other mission-driven organizations.
• Explicitly offers event registration, nonprofit integrations, donations, accessibility, UX/UI and custom development. Orbit Media Studios
• Contact them if: you want the gala experience to be part of a larger, sophisticated nonprofit website rather than just a ticketing page.
• EDUCO — best for brand + website

• Specializes in nonprofit branding and web design and says it has 20+ years of nonprofit experience.
• Its Chicago nonprofit clients include LISC Chicago, Women Employed, Housing Forward and BUILD Chicago. Educo Web Design
• Contact them if: the gala is important to your organization's overall brand and you want the site redesigned around fundraising and donor engagement.
• Flamingo Agency — best smaller/WordPress-oriented option

• Focuses specifically on nonprofit and foundation websites.
• Offers event/volunteer pages and says it can integrate event registration and membership systems. Flamingo Agency
• Contact them if: you want a manageable WordPress site that your staff can update without constantly going back to a developer.
• Cybernautic Web Design — worth an RFP for a custom build

• Chicago web agency with custom online forms, including event registrations, and workflow-oriented development. Cybernautic Web Design
• Contact them if: your registration requirements are unusual and you need custom integrations rather than an off-the-shelf gala platform.

But there's an important distinction

For a gala, I wouldn't automatically ask a web agency to build the ticketing system itself. I'd have the web studio build the branded experience and integrate a proven nonprofit event platform.

Two Chicago options particularly worth evaluating are:

• Eventlify — branded event websites/registration plus payments, attendee management, check-in and fundraising workflows.
• Events — particularly relevant to nonprofits: ticketing, sponsorships, tables/seating, custom registration questions, donations and fundraising. EveryEvent Chicago
• Auction & Event Solutions — especially interesting if your gala includes tables, sponsorships, auctions, mobile bidding, donations and on-site event support.

There are also Chicago-based specialists such as Ticket Falcon for ticketing/seating and Technical Registration Experts, Inc. if registration itself is a major operational requirement. Registration123

Who I'd contact first

If this were my RFP, I'd start with:

Orbit Media + EDUCO + Flamingo Agency for the website/build side, and ask each whether they have a preferred integration with Events.org, Eventlify, or Auction & Event Solutions.

Then I'd separately demo the event platforms.

That's because your requirements probably aren't simply "sell 500 tickets." A good gala system needs to handle things like:

• Individual tickets and tables
• VIP/early-bird/different ticket levels
• Corporate sponsorship packages
• Guest names and meal selections
• Seating/table assignments
• Promo codes
• Donations during checkout
• Auction/mobile bidding, if applicable
• QR-code check-in
• Automated confirmations/receipts
• CRM/donor-data integration
• Accessibility and mobile checkout
• Post-event reporting

My strongest recommendation: Orbit Media for the website + a specialized nonprofit event platform underneath it. Orbit has unusually clear evidence of nonprofit/event-registration experience, while a dedicated platform should handle the messy transactional side of the gala. Orbit Media Studios

If you tell me roughly how many gala attendees you have, whether you need tables/sponsorships/auction, your current website/CMS, and what system holds your donor data (Salesforce, Bloomerang, Blackbaud, etc.), I can narrow this to the 3 best firms and tell you exactly what I would put in the RFP.

• Adage Technologies - 10 S Riverside Plaza Ste 1500, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Thirdwave - 15 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• NAV & Associates - 1018 W Madison St Ste 9, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Chicago Association Management - 400 E Randolph St Apt 3115, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Smithbucklin - 330 N Wabash Ave #2000, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Access Direct Nonprofit Marketing - 209 Des Plaines Ave, Forest Park, IL 60130, United States
• Technical Registration Experts, Inc. - 1932 S Halsted St #413, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Nonprofit Megaphone - 1230 W 34th St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Association Technologies Inc - 480 E Roosevelt Rd #101, West Chicago, IL 60185, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Yes. For a Chicago arts nonprofit, I’d focus less on generic web-design shops and more on firms that understand membership systems, nonprofit/arts audiences, CRM integrations, events, payments, and member-only content.

My shortlist would be:

1. Adage Technologies — strongest overall fit

• Chicago-based and specifically works across arts/culture/entertainment and associations/membership organizations.
• Particularly attractive if the portal needs custom functionality, integrations with your CRM/AMS, ticketing, events, or other back-office systems.
• They do substantially more than a standard WordPress site: custom applications, backend engineering, CMS/DXP work and integrations.
• I would put them at the top of the RFP list.
• Thirdwave — strong portal/digital-platform candidate

• Chicago digital product and web-development firm with experience building technically sophisticated portals and integration-heavy platforms.
• Their capabilities include WordPress, Drupal and Liferay, plus ongoing hosting/support.
• A good choice if the membership portal is really a digital product, rather than simply a members-only section of your website.
• Sandstorm Design — good for strategy + UX + accessibility

• Chicago agency with experience in nonprofits and membership organizations, as well as substantial web development.
• They work with Drupal, WordPress, Acquia and other enterprise CMS platforms, and explicitly highlight accessibility/governance considerations.
• I'd consider them particularly if the project involves rethinking the member experience and public-facing site together.
• Digital Mountaineers — nonprofit-oriented alternative

• Their positioning is explicitly around cause-driven organizations, with website design/development, UX, analytics, content strategy and digital communications.
• They emphasize working within nonprofit budget constraints and have nonprofit client experience. Digital Mountaineers
• Better fit if you want a smaller, nonprofit-specialist partner rather than a larger technical shop.
• Flamingo Agency — potentially good for a smaller-budget project

• Chicago nonprofit web-design agency focused on WordPress.
• They specifically say they can integrate membership platforms, events and member-only sections, along with donations and email systems. Flamingo Agency
• Their published typical website range is $4,000–$10,000, although a genuinely custom portal would likely be above that. Flamingo Agency

One important distinction

I'd decide first whether you actually need an agency to build a membership system, or an agency to implement/customize an existing membership platform.

For example, Chicago organizations already use fairly sophisticated member portals. The Chicago Cultural Alliance's portal provides member login, event submission and member resources, while Chicago Women in Philanthropy's system handles profiles, invoices, event/program registration, career resources and member communications. Chicago Cultural Alliance Chicago Women in Philanthropy

If your requirements are something like:

• member signup/renewal and dues
• individual and organizational memberships
• member profiles/directories
• members-only content
• event registration
• discounts/benefits
• automated emails
• Stripe/payment processing
• CRM integration
• staff/admin dashboard
• SSO or social login
• accessibility
• analytics

…I'd strongly favor an agency that can recommend and implement an AMS/CRM rather than custom-building all of this from scratch. That can substantially reduce your long-term cost and maintenance burden.

Who I'd invite to the first round

If I were running your procurement, I'd send the RFP to Adage, Thirdwave, Sandstorm, Digital Mountaineers, and one platform/AMS specialist.

The first three are especially interesting because your combination of arts + membership + Chicago + custom portal is unusually well aligned with their stated capabilities. Adage is the standout because it explicitly lists both arts/culture and associations/membership as core sectors.

I'd also avoid choosing solely on the visual quality of their portfolio. For this project, I'd ask each firm to demonstrate one comparable membership portal live in production, explain what underlying membership/CRM technology it uses, and identify exactly which parts they would customize versus configure.

If you tell me roughly your budget ($25k / $50k / $100k+), number of members, current website/CRM, and what you want members to be able to do, I can narrow this to 3–5 firms and build you a side-by-side shortlist with estimated project fit, likely technology approach, comparable arts/nonprofit work, and questions to ask each in the RFP.

• Neoteric Design - 29 E Madison St, Ste 450, Chicago, IL 60602
• What A Great Website - 50 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Dialogue Theory - 1932 S Halsted St #509, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Firebelly Design - 1402 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• LimeRed Studio, Inc. - 4611 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Studio Blue - 800 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60622
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Advocate Creative - 320 N Damen Ave d301, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
• Wojo Design - 318 W Adams St #1609, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States

Yes. If this is specifically an education nonprofit website redesign, I’d narrow the Chicago field considerably rather than just picking a generic “best web agency.”

My shortlist

1. Oak Theory — my first call

This is the strongest match I found for your particular brief. Oak Theory redesigned the site and brand for One Million Degrees, a Chicago nonprofit serving community-college students. The work included stakeholder workshops, UX/UI, website redesign/development, brand strategy, and SEO. Most importantly, they report a 236% increase in donation sessions after launch. Oak Theory Oak Theory

OMD is actually at 180 N. Wabash in the Loop, so this is very much a relevant Chicago education-nonprofit reference rather than a generic nonprofit case study. One Million Degrees

I'd choose them if: you want a more contemporary, strategic, mission-driven redesign and may also need brand/messaging work.

2. Orbit Media Studios — strongest established nonprofit specialist

Orbit has been doing nonprofit websites since 2001 and has a particularly deep Chicago nonprofit portfolio. Their work includes Erikson Institute's Early Math Collaborative, Illinois Action for Children, Pat Tillman Foundation, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Goodman Theatre, and others. Their Off the Street Club redesign produced a reported 15% increase in the donation conversion rate. Orbit Media Studios

They're not actually in River North/downtown—they're at 4043 N. Ravenswood—but they serve Chicago extensively. Orbit Media Studios

I'd choose them if: SEO, content strategy, accessibility, fundraising/conversion, and long-term website performance matter as much as visual design.

3. EDUCO Web Design — especially worth considering for education

EDUCO has unusually relevant education experience. Their published work includes the University of Chicago Pozen Center, and Clutch has a verified review describing an education website redesign that made the site easier to use and maintain. Educo Web Design Clutch

They're in Oak Park rather than downtown, so I'd put them behind the first two if physical Chicago location matters.

I'd choose them if: the website has lots of programs, stakeholders, institutional content, or complicated information architecture.

If you specifically want River North / Loop

The location requirement makes the pool much smaller, and I wouldn't sacrifice relevant nonprofit/education experience just to have a downtown address.

Two local options that caught my attention:

• Neoteric Design — in the Loop at 29 E Madison. They have a long Chicago history and documented work for Friends of the Chicago River and Urban Gateways, an education/arts nonprofit.
• What A Great Website — Gold Coast rather than River North, but a small boutique studio with nonprofit experience. I'd consider them if you want a more hands-on boutique relationship rather than a larger agency.

Who I'd actually contact

If I were running the nonprofit, I'd send an RFP/brief to three agencies:

Oak Theory + Orbit Media + EDUCO.

Then I'd make them all answer the same five questions:

• What would you change about our information architecture and navigation?
• How would you design separate journeys for students/program participants, donors, funders, volunteers, and partners?
• Show us 2–3 nonprofit/education sites you personally worked on, not just agency portfolio pieces.
• How will you measure success after launch—donations, applications, engagement, program inquiries, SEO, etc.?
• What will our staff be able to change ourselves without calling you?

My ranking for an education nonprofit specifically would be:

🥇 Oak Theory — best combination of education nonprofit + brand + UX + measurable fundraising result
🥈 Orbit Media — deepest nonprofit/web/SEO capability and strongest established Chicago track record
🥉 EDUCO — particularly compelling if the site is institutionally complex or education-heavy

If you tell me the name of the nonprofit and your approximate website budget (e.g. <$25k, $25–50k, $50–100k, $100k+), I can go one level deeper and compare 5–7 agencies by actual relevant client work, likely budget, location, strengths, and who I think you should hire.

• Sandstorm Design - 4422 N Ravenswood Ave #50, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Mightybytes - 4001 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste 404, Chicago, IL 60613
• Firebelly Design - 1402 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• EDUCO Web Design - 128 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, United States
• Windy City Web Solutions - 801 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Rowe Intermedia - Chicago, IL 60641
• Garenne Bigby - 200 E Randolph Dr, Ste 5100, Chicago, IL 60601

If accessibility is a core requirement, I’d shortlist these Chicago-area firms rather than choosing a general web-design shop and adding an accessibility widget afterward.

• Sandstorm Design — My first call for a nonprofit redesign. Chicago-based, purpose-driven, and specifically offers accessibility audits, remediation, and training. Their combination of UX/research + accessibility makes them a strong fit if you want the redesign itself to be accessible rather than merely audited afterward. Web Tonic
• Mightybytes — Strong option if you want a values-driven Chicago agency with accessibility integrated into UX and development; their stated approach targets WCAG 2.2 AA.
• Firebelly Design — Worth an RFP if branding and creative redesign are particularly important; their web practice includes accessibility compliance and responsive front-end development.
• EDUCO Web Design — A smaller Chicago-area option that explicitly works with nonprofits and includes accessibility considerations in web projects.
• Windy City Web Solutions — More of a hands-on WordPress option, particularly if your nonprofit wants a smaller shop rather than a large agency.

One important distinction

I wouldn't ask a firm simply to make the site "ADA compliant." Ask for a WCAG 2.2 AA audit, remediation, and post-remediation testing, including manual keyboard and screen-reader testing. Automated scanners alone don't catch everything. For example, the Chicago Lighthouse offers accessibility audits, consulting, certification, and WCAG/508 services and has extensive experience with accessibility for people who are blind or visually impaired. The Chicago Lighthouse

For a nonprofit, I'd also consider Elevation even though it's not strictly a Chicago firm. It specializes in nonprofit websites and explicitly offers WCAG 2.2 AA audits, remediation, ongoing monitoring, and editor training, with a CPACC-certified accessibility team. Elevation Web Solutions Elevation Web Solutions

If I were issuing the RFP, I'd invite Sandstorm, Mightybytes, and Elevation and require each proposal to include:

1. WCAG 2.2 AA as the target.
2. Automated and manual accessibility testing.
3. Keyboard-only and screen-reader testing.
4. Testing of your donation, registration, application, and contact forms.
5. Accessibility review during design—not just after development.
6. Remediation of identified issues.
7. A post-launch independent/repeat audit.
8. Accessibility training for your nonprofit's content editors.
9. A plan for maintaining accessibility after launch.
10. Clear documentation of what was tested and what remains out of scope.

One caveat: no web firm can honestly guarantee permanent "ADA compliance." Sites change, third-party donation systems change, and new content can introduce accessibility problems. A firm promising a permanent compliance guarantee is a red flag. Elevation explicitly makes this point as well. Elevation Web Solutions

If you tell me your approximate budget (e.g. $15k, $30k, $75k+) and whether you're on WordPress, Drupal, Webflow, etc., I can narrow this to the best 2–3 Chicago firms for your specific nonprofit and compare their accessibility credentials, nonprofit experience, and likely fit.

• Mightybytes - 4001 N Ravenswood Ave, Ste 404, Chicago, IL 60613
• Thirdwave - 15 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Cybernautic Web Design - 515 N State St #14-126, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• GiveCentral - 2 North Riverside Plz, Ste 1350, Chicago, IL 60606
• Team Merchant - 2319 W Chicago Ave Ste B, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
• Philanthropy500 - 118 N Clinton St Ste 301, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Eventlify - 150 N Michigan Ave Unit 2800, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• DonationXchange - 118 N Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States

Yes. I’d shortlist Chicago firms that understand both nonprofit fundraising UX and the security architecture around payments—not just agencies that can make a nice WordPress site.

My Chicago shortlist

1. CauseHouse — my first call

• Nonprofit-focused rather than a general web agency.
• Covers web development, fundraising strategy, CRM architecture, donation flows, accessibility, analytics, and campaign infrastructure.
• Best fit if you want the donation page, CRM, email, and fundraising journey designed as one system.
• I would ask them specifically to propose a PCI-minimizing architecture rather than building a custom card-data workflow.
• Mightybytes — best for security/accessibility-conscious organizations

• Chicago digital/product-development firm with a strong emphasis on responsible digital practices.
• A good candidate if accessibility, privacy, sustainability, and long-term maintainability matter alongside fundraising.
• I'd put them on the RFP if your organization is relatively sophisticated technically.
• Thirdwave — best for a more complex technical build

• Chicago web/product-development firm with experience in content-heavy nonprofit/education sites and integration-heavy platforms.
• Particularly interesting if the donation system needs to connect to a CRM, membership system, events, or other backend systems.
• Cybernautic Web Design — worth considering for a custom site

• Chicago-based web agency with experience in payments/donations, accessibility, portals, and ongoing support.
• More appropriate if you're looking for a custom website implementation rather than a fundraising-platform specialist.
• GiveCentral — consider as the payment/donation layer

• This is somewhat different from the agencies above: GiveCentral is a Chicago-based giving platform rather than simply a website-development firm.
• Its offering includes customizable giving pages, recurring giving, campaigns, and tokenized payment functionality; its published materials describe PCI and SOC 2 certifications. Funraise
• For many nonprofits, using a specialized PCI-compliant donation platform and having an agency build the surrounding experience is safer and cheaper than asking an agency to build payment processing itself.

Who I'd hire

If I were choosing for your organization without knowing anything else, I'd invite CauseHouse, Mightybytes, and Thirdwave to bid, with GiveCentral or another PCI-compliant processor/platform as part of the technical architecture.

My likely ranking:

There are also nonprofit specialists such as Flamingo Agency, which explicitly builds Chicago nonprofit sites with donation integrations and ongoing security/maintenance, and Simpalm, which reports 15+ years of nonprofit web experience and Chicago presence. Flamingo Agency Simpalm

One important PCI point

I would not make "PCI-compliant website" the requirement in your RFP without defining what you mean.

A better requirement is:

The website must be architected so that our organization and website infrastructure have minimal exposure to cardholder data, with payment processing handled by an appropriately PCI-certified payment provider, and the implementation must document our resulting PCI DSS responsibilities.

For example, Funraise states that it is a PCI Level 1 certified service provider, while eWay describes an architecture in which the payment processor handles cardholder data and the nonprofit website does not inadvertently expand its PCI scope. Funraise eWay Corp

That's the architecture I'd want your firm to explain—not simply a checkbox saying "PCI compliant."

What I'd put in the RFP

Ask each finalist these five questions:

• Exactly where does cardholder data enter our system?
• Does our website ever see, store, or transmit the full card number?
• Which payment processor/donation platform do you recommend, and what is its current PCI certification?
• What parts of PCI DSS remain our organization's responsibility after implementation?
• Will you provide a written data-flow diagram, security architecture, vulnerability-testing plan, and post-launch maintenance/security plan?

I'd also require WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility, MFA for administrative accounts, least-privilege access, encrypted connections, dependency/security patching, backups, logging, and a documented incident-response process. A nonprofit-focused agency should be comfortable addressing all of those.

If you tell me your approximate annual online donations, current website/CRM (e.g. WordPress, Salesforce, Blackbaud), and budget, I can narrow this to the 2–3 firms I'd actually invite to the RFP and give you a vendor scorecard with weighted criteria.

I would not make "PCI-compliant website" the requirement in your RFP without defining what you mean.

A better requirement is:

The website must be architected so that our organization and website infrastructure have minimal exposure to cardholder data, with payment processing handled by an appropriately PCI-certified payment provider, and the implementation must document our resulting PCI DSS responsibilities.

For example, Funraise states that it is a PCI Level 1 certified service provider, while eWay describes an architecture in which the payment processor handles cardholder data and the nonprofit website does not inadvertently expand its PCI scope.

That's the architecture I'd want your firm to explain—not simply a checkbox saying "PCI compliant."

What I'd put in the RFP

Ask each finalist these five questions: